ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor, St. Louis Bridge, will close the Big Bend bridge over over I-270 next week..

Crews will close the bridge starting at 8 p.m. May 24. All lanes will be closed before morning rush on May 25.

In addition, crews may occasionally close up to three lanes on northbound and southbound I-270 overnight between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The bridge will remain closed for three months so crews can remove and replace the bridge deck. The bridge should reopen before school begins in August. While the bridge is closed, drivers will be able to use the ramp from the east side of the bridge to northbound I-270 and the ramp from southbound I-270 to the west side of the bridge. There are several state, county and city roadways that local traffic can use to get from the east side of Big Bend to the west side of the bridge while it is closed.